Wiring device



June 8, 1965 v. H. LORENZ WIRING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR VICTOR H LORENZ ATTORNEY June 8, 1965 Filed May 28, 1962 V. H. LORENZ WIRING DEVICE FIG. 9.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR'. VICTOR H. LORENZ ATTORNEY facturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. 198,078 10 Claims. (Cl. 17475) This invention relates to a wiring device and more particularly to a novel electrical connector housing.

In the past it has been difiicult to provide satisfactory electrical connectors in which the terminal ends of the electrical conductor cables could readily and efiiciently be secured within the connector housing. In prior attempts to provide a satisfactory means for securing the cable within the connector housing, one solution to the problem has been to mould the electrical conductor cable Within the connector housing. Although this has proven to be satisfactory with regard to positive securement of the cable within the connector housing, nevertheless the cable one so secured therein cannot be removed. Accordingly, the conductor cable has to be the proper length as for the particular application and no field repairs to broken cables can be made. Another attempt to solve this problem has been in the form of frictionally holding the cable within the electrical conductor as with a circular metallic cable clamp. This approach to the problem has not been entirely satisfactory in that when the cable is flexed the unyielding nature of the circular clamp provides an area of stress concentration where the cable enters the clamp. Flexing of the cable is accordingly concentrated in this area and results in breaking the conductors and the cable itself, giving rise to the danger of electrocution and fire fromihe bare ends of the conductors.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a novel conductor housing which is inexpensive to manufacture and free from complex component parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector housing which is usable for various sized cables.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector housing which is highly eflicient in use, easy to install, quick to connect and disconnect, and includes a-minimum number of component parts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved connector housing which does not require the use of special tools in securing the cable thereto.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved connector housing which is adapted to provide means for positive mechanical securement of the cable to the connector housing, which means is flexible and provides for stress distribution axially along the cable when the cable is flexed.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view, partly in section, of one embodiment of a wiring device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIGIZ is a cross sectional view of the Wiring device shown in FIG. 1, taken substantially. along the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view partly in section of the intermediate member ofthe wiring device of FIG. 1;

' United States Patent FIG. 4 is a plan view of the spring clamp securing means shown in the wiring device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the spring clamp securing means shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the spring clamp securing means shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the securing means employed in the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the securing means of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of a wiring device constituted in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional-view of the device as shown in FIG. 9 taken along the line 10-10 thereof; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the portion of the device as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to PEG. 1 it will be notedth-ata winding device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention comprises an elongated threeapiece formed housing 10 consisting of an elongated forward member 12, an elongated intermediate member 14, and an elongated rearward member 16, all three members having axially aligned bores therein respectively. The housing 16 is formed of any suitable resilient flexible insulating material such as moulded neoprene or the like, with the exception that the forward member 12 can be of rigid non-insulating material as illustrated by 12' in FIG. 9.

Rearward member 16 of the housing 10 is of a generally cylindrical con-figuration with a portion of the axial bore adjacent the rearward end 18 having an integral, radially inwardly extending, convexly cross sectional, annular ring 20, which ring 26 provides a suitable opening 21 to freely receive a cable 22 therein. The bore of the rearward member 16 has a portion 24 located immediately forwardly adjacent the annular ring 26 which is tapered longitudinally, the largest diameter of which tapered bore 24 is located remote from the annular ring 20. The bore of member 16 has an internally threaded portion 26 located immediately forwardly adjacent the portion 24, the forward end of which terminates in an enlarged forward portion 28 of the bore. Portion 28 has an internal diameter which is slightly larger than the root diameter of the internally threaded portion 26. As is well known cable 22 has a plurality of separated electrical conductors 64 therein, which conductors are suitably insulated by sheathings, respectively, other than the insulating material forming the body of the cable 22.

The outer surface of the elongated intermediate member 14 of the housing 10 comprises a forward bell shaped end portionfit), an intermediate generally cylindrical por tion 32, and a tapered rearward end portion 34. The tapered end portion 34 has a pair of diametrically opposed slots 36 extending longitudinally from the rearward end 38 thereof substantially the entire length of the tapered end portion '34 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. End portion 34 tapers radially inwardly and longitudinally toward its rearward end 38 with the smallest diameter of the tapered end portion 34 being slightly smaller than the largest diameter of the tapered bore 24 within the rearward member 16 so as to be axially rotatably freely received within the large end of the tapered bore 24. The taper of the portion 34 is substantially less than the taper of the bore 24 so that as the tapered end portion 34 of the intermediate member 14 is inserted into the tapered 7 tion 34 of the intermediate member 14 is deformed radially inwardly for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As shown, the portion 32 of the intermediate member 14 is provided with external threads extending longitudinally along substantially half of its length and which start at the forward end of the tapered end portion 34. The bore in the intermediate member 14 has a portion 42 extending coaxial-1y through the tapered end portion 34 and the intermediate cylindrical portion 32 which is of a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the annular ring 26 in the rearward member 16 and a portion 44 within the bell-shaped end portion 36 which is of a larger diameter than the portion 12. The enlarged portion 44 of the bore terminates in a counterbore 46 externally inward from the open end of the portions 36. Spaced inwardly of the open end of the bell-shaped portion 39 is an integral radially inwardly extending annular ring 48 which cooperates with the forward member 12 of the housing 10.

'Forward member 12 of the housing 16 is generally cylindrical and has an axial bore 56 extending therethrough. The rearward end of the member 12 is closely received about its outer periphery within the counter-bore 46 of the inter-mediate member 14 and has a circumferential groove 53 located adjacent the rearward end thereof which closely receives the annular projection 48 of the intermediate member 14 to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the intermediate member'ld and the forward member 12. In assembling members 12 and 14, the forward bell shaped end portion 36 of resilient member 12 is flexed radially outwardly and a portion of annular ring 48 is inserted in a portion of circumferential groove 53. Then the next adjacent portion of ring 48 is worked into groove '53. This procedure continues circumferentially about the housing until the entire annular ring is :receieved in circumferential groove 53. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for preventing relative rotational movement between the intermediate member 14 and the forward member 12. The forward member 12 has an integral radially outwardly extending annular flange 52 spaced longitudinally outwardly of the bell-shaped end portion 30 of the intermediate member 1 4 which flange 52 provides a shoulder to limit the forward motion of a freely rotatable coupling nut 54 having an inwardly extending flange 55 which cooperates with the flange 52. As is well known the nut 54 may be suitably knurled on its outer periphery to facilitate being rotated during connecting or disconnecting to a cooperating connecting member (not shown). Also, nut 54 is positioned on forward member 12 before the forward member 12 is assembled within the intermediate member 14. The forward end portion of the forward member 12 is of a smaller diameter and is bevelled at the free end thereof as at 57 to facilitate its mounting within a suitable cooperating connecting member (not shown). Bore 56' is of a larger diameter than the bore portion 44 :and is suitably counterbored as at 59. Countenbore 59 terminates in a shoulder 61 which serves as a stop to properly position the forward end of a cylindrical insert 66 of a suitable plastic insulating material which is closely received Within the oounterbore 59 and extends only along the length thereof. The insert 611 may be prevented from rotation within the counterbore 59 in any suitable manner such as a cooperating longitudinal bead and groove arrangement in the counterbore 59 and insert 66, respectively. A plurality of contact pins 62 are moulded into the insert 61 with the forward ends of the pins 62 extending into the open space defined by the bore 50 of the forward member 12 and adapted to cooperate with a suitable female receptacle. Obviously, the insert 60is inserted within the counterbore 61 before the forward and intermediate portions .12 and 14, respectively,

arev assembled. It is further to be understood that alspring material suitably bent in the form of a U configuration so as to have arm portions 68, 76 and a bight portion 72. The arm portion 68 is formed with a pair of inte- 'gral longitudinally spaced prongs 74 which extend outacute angle, the points of which prongs 76 face in a direction away from the bight portion 72 and away from both arm portions 68 and 70.

In assembling the heretofore described device, the cable 22 is inserted through the member 16 from the rearward end thereof and thereafter the cable 22 is insorted through member 14 from the rearward end thereof so that the members 16 and 14 are freely located on the cable22. A suitable end portion of the insulating material forming the body of the cable 22 is removed to provide access to the individually sheathed electrical conductors 64. A portion of the exposed sheathing is removed from the electrical conductors 64 and the conductors 64 are suitably secured to the pins 62, respectively, in the insert 60 in any well known manner such as by crimping or soldering or, as shown in FIG. 9, by pressure screws 65. Spring clamps 66 are inserted over the rearward end of the intermediate member 14, such that the prongs 74 and 76 extend generally radially inwardly from the tapered surface 36 of the tapered end portion of the intermediate member 14. The prongs 74 are forced into the tapered surface 34 of the intermediate member 14. Next the tapered portion of the intermediate member 14 is inserted into bore 28 of the rearward member 18 and when the threaded portion 26 on therearward member 16 engages the threaded portion 40 of the intermediate member 14, the rearward member 16 is rotated on the intermediate member 14,. thereby causing the camming surfaces of the bore 24 on the rearward portion 16 and the outer surface 34 of the tapered portion ofthe intermediate member14 to cooperate with each other so as to force the tapered end portion 34 of the intermediate member 14 radially inwardly into engage meut with the cable 22. The tapered end portion 34 may be readily forced radially inwardly inasmuch as the longitudinal slot 36 within the tapered end portion 34 permit the rearward member 16 and the intermediate member 14 to act as a collet and firmly grip the tapered end portion 34 onto the conductor cable 22. As the tapered end portion 34 carrying the spring clamps 66 is forced radially inwardly, the prongs 76 on the spring clamps 66 engage the cable 22 and form a positive mechanical sec-urement thereto. -It will be noted that once the cable is secured within the housing 10 as shown in FIG. 1, any longitudinal force such as an axial tension on the cable for example, which may be exerted to pull the cable 22 out of the housing 10, will cause the prongs 76 to engage deeper into the cable 22 as well as the prongs 74 to engage deeperinto the rear end tapered portion 34 of the intermediate member 14.

It is to be further noted that the cable 22 can be readily released from engagement with the housing 10 by reversal of the above described assembly proceduresuch as by removing the rearward member 16 andbending radially outward the legs 68 of the spring clamps 66 to release the prongs 74 from their engagement with the rear end tapered portion 34 of the intermediate member 14 so that when the cable 22 is reanwardly extracted from the intermediate 7 member 14 the spring clamps 66 will be pulled off the' tapered end portion 34 and moved axially rearwardly thereof so that they can be readily removed from the cable It is to be realized that although only two of the spring clamps 66 are shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, any suitable number of such clamps can be used as found necessary to prevent the cable 22 from moving axiall rearwardly in the housing 10.

It is obvious that for each electrical conductor 64 there must be provided a pin 62 so that a continuous electrical path is provided for each of the conductors 64.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of a spring clamp 66 generally indicated at 78 comprising a spring metal clamp of similar shape but having in place of the prongs 74 and 76 of the spring clamp 66, surfaces 80 and 82 provided with sharp edged, solid particles or grit secured thereto, which surfaces 80 and 82 are analogous to those surfaces of the spring clamp 66 from which the prongs 74 and 76, respectively, protrude.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an electrical connector housing 10 similar to the electrical housing 10 with like or similarly functioning parts bearing the same numbers as they did in FIG. 1, while those parts which have a similar function but a definite difference in construction carry the same numbers primed. The forward member 12' hereinbefore mentioned is integrally moulded with the intermediate member 14' and necessitates a slight change in method of assembly, namely, that the insert 60 must be inserted into the forward member 12 from its forward end and retained in position as shown in FIG. 9 by threaded retaining members such as cap screws 84 threadedly engaged in suitable threaded radial bores 86 in the forward member 12. Such forward insertion of the insert 60 is of course accompanied by an equal amount of withdrawal of the cable 22 rearwardly through the intermediate member 14' and the rearward member 16. The difference between the intermediate member 14 of FIG. 1 and the intermediate member 14' of FIG. 9 is further shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In FIG. 10 it is to be noted that a plurality of longitudinal notches 36 shown as [four in FIG. 10 is substituted for the two longitudinal notches 36 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 11 it may be seen that a hollow, partially cylindrical, metallic member 88 having a serrated inner surface is integrally moulded with the inner periphery of the rearward portion 34 of the intermediate member 14' to produce a jaw member to accomplish the anchoring functions assigned to the spring clamps 66 which were shown in FIG. 1. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 being otherwise the same as that shown in FIG. 1 no further description of the FIG. 9 is necessary.

Having described preferred embodiments of this invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be realized that modification may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly it is respectfully requested that the scope of this invention not be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wiring device comprising, a first housing portion having a first bore therein, said first housing portion being of a material that is readily deformable radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said bore, securing means having a first portion located at least adjacent a portion of the surface of said first bore and a second portion located at least adjacent a portion of an outer surface of said first housing portion spaced transversely outwardly from said first portion of said securing means with respect to said first bore, a second housing portion having a tapered bore therein encompassing at least a portion of said first housing and said first bore and cooperable therewith to radially inwardly deform a portion of said first housing portion so as to reduce a transverse axis of said first bore said bores being generally coaxial, said second portion of said securing means having integral means for securing said securing means to said first housing portion when said first housing portion is so encompassed, and said first portion of said securing means having integral means for at least partially securing an electrical conductor within said first bore.

2. A wiring device comprising, an elongated tubular housing supporting at one end thereof at least one elec trical contact which is electrically and mechanically engageable by other electrical current conducting means, collet means secured to the other end of said housing, an electrical conductor encased in insulating means which insulating means extends through said collet means and said other end of said housing, said electrical conductor extending from the portion of said insulating means adjacent said contact and being electrically and mechanically secured thereto, and gripping means having a first portion thereof located intermediate said collet means and said other end of said housing and a second portion thereof located intermediate said other end of said housing and said insulating means which portions are wedged by said collet means into engagement with said other end of said housing and said insulating means, respectively.

3. A wiring device as defined in claim 2 in which each of said portions has means thereon for piercingly engaging said other end of said housing and said insulating means, respectively.

4. A wiring device as defined in claim 2 in which a plurality of gripping means are so provided which are circumferentially spaced on said other end of said housing.

5. A wiring device as defined in claim 4 in which said other end of said housing has a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots therein for permitting radial deformation of said other end of said housing.

6. A wiring device as defined in claim 2 in which each of said portions has means for resisting relative movement between said portions and said other end of said housing and said insulating means, respectively.

7. A wiring device comprising, an insulating housing having an inner portion with a bore therein, said inner portion of said housing being of a material whereby said bore is deformable along at least one transverse axis, said housing including an outer portion overlying said inner portion and cooperable with at least a portion of said inner portion of said housing to reduce at least said one transverse axis of said bore, means having a portion thereof located along said one axis and between said inner and outer portions of said housing to secure said means to said inner portion of said housing, and said means having another portion located within said bore for securing an electrical conductor therein, said inner portion of said housing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots therein.

8. A wiring device as defined in claim 2 in which said collet means has means for camming said first portion of said gripping means into engagement with said other end of said housing.

9. A wiring device comprising, an elongated tubular housing supporting at one end thereof at least one electrical contact which is electrically and mechanically engageable by other electrical current conducting means, collet means secured to the other end of said housing, said other end of said housing being composed of a resilient, flexible, insulating material, an electrical conductor encased in insulating means which insulating means extends through said collet means and said other end of said housing, said electrical conductor extending from the portion of said insulating means adjacent said contact and being electrically and mechanically secured thereto, and a tubular metallic gripping member having an outer and inner surface, said tubular gripping memher being integrally molded along its entire outer surface area to the inner periphery of said other end of said housing, said inner surface of said hollow gripping member having a plurality of serrations thereon which serrations 7 8 are wedged by said collet means into gripping engage- 2,216,219 10/40 Wiley 24--73 ment with said insulating means. 2,238,834 4/41 Travers 17488 10. A Wiring device as defined in claim 9 wherein said 2,898,648 8/ 51' Bright 24--73 X other end of said housing and said gripping means have 2,995,388 8/ 61 Morello et a1. 174-88 X a plurality of coincidental slots respectively extending longitudinally thereof.

FOREIGN PATENTS 811,358 4/59 Great Britain. References Cited by the Examiner 95 3,35 8 11/56 Germany.

I UNITE STATES PATENTS 10 JOHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner. 2,153,199 4/39 Miller 174-78 JOHN P. wrLDMAN, Examiner. 

1. A WIRING DEVICE COMPRISING, A FIRST HOUSING PORTION HAVING A FIRST BORE THEREIN, SAID FIRST HOUSING PORTION BEING OF A MATERIAL THAT IS READILY DEFORMABLE RADIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BORE, SECURING MEANS HAVING A FIRST PORTION LOCATED AT LEAST ADJACENT A PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST BORE AND A SECOND PORTION LOCATED AT LEAST ADJACENT A PORTION OF AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID FIRST HOUSING PORTION SPACED TRANSVERSELY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID SECURING MEANS WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST BORE, A SECOND HOUSING PORTION HAVING A TAPERED BORE THEREIN ENCOMPASSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID FIRST HOUSING AND SAID FIRST BORE AND COOPERABLE THEREWITH TO RADIALLY INWARDLY DEFORM A PORTION OF SAID FIRST HOUSING PORTION SO AS TO REDUCE A TRANSVERSE AXIS OF SAID FIRST BORE SAID BORES BEING GENERALLY COAXIAL, SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SECURING MEANS HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SECURING MEANS TO SAID FIRST HOUSING PORTION WHEN SAID FIRST HOUSING PORTION IS SO ENCOMPASSED, AND SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID SECURING MEANS HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR AT LEAST PARTIALLY SECURING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR WITHIN SAID FIRST BORE. 